Murray looks for career win No. 600 against Oilers

Senators head coach Bryan Murray looks to become one of only five NHL coaches to win 600 games tomorrow against the Edmonton Oilers.

by Todd Anderson

Ottawa Senators head coach Bryan Murray will join an exclusive club when he wins his next game. Currently boasting 599 career victories, Murray hopes to join a list of only four other NHL coaches who have won 600 when the Senators host the Edmonton Oilers tomorrow at Scotiabank Place.

"Obviously, it's something that's nice and rewarding," Murray said of the milestone after practice today. "Most importantly, let's win for the team here and help secure positioning going into the playoffs. Really what I'm looking at is let's just win the hockey game and worry about all the other stuff later."

Murray feels lucky to enjoy his success over his years in the NHL.

"It means a lot over your life to have the opportunity to do what you love to do. That's to be around good hockey players, elite people that want to get better. I've had a lot of fun to be able to do this. To get to a point to win 600 games means over the years that you've coached, you've been fortunate to have some good teams."

Murray has coached the Washington Capitals, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Anaheim Ducks and the Senators over 16 seasons in the NHL. He trails only Scotty Bowman, 1,244; Al Arbour, 781; Dick Irvin, 692; and Pat Quinn, 657, in career wins. In his first season in Ottawa last year, he posted a 52-21-9 record, the highest single-season totals of his career.

The 64-year-old Shawville, Que., native also worked as a general manager with the Red Wings, Panthers and Ducks.

Combined with his brother, Terry, an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Flyers, the Murrays comprise the NHL's most successful coaching family, combining for a record 959 victories. Terry served as head coach of the Capitals, Flyers and Panthers.